USGS Newsroom

USGS Releases New Oil and Gas Assessment for Bakken and Three Forks Formations

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:59:32 EDT

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) today released an updated oil and gas resource assessment for the Bakken Formation and a new assessment for the Three Forks Formation in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

Fargo Flood Likely to Peak After April 15

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 3 Apr 2013 15:27:27 EDT

Peak flooding on the Red River at Fargo will likely occur sometime after April 15, according to U.S. Geological Survey streamgage data and National Weather Service information.

Scientists with the USGS and NWS meteorologists are closely monitoring the Red River at Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., in anticipation of April flooding. USGS streamgages indicate that on Wednesday, April 3 the river still had not begun its spring rise, meaning that the impending 2013 flood will be considerably later than the large floods of 2009 and 2011. The 2013 flood likely will be later than the 1997 flood, which was exacerbated by an early April blizzard.

"The large floods at Fargo that have previously occurred in April—1952, 1965, 1969, 1979, and 1997—peaked from April 15 to April 19," said Gregg Wiche, Director of the USGS North Dakota Water Science Center. "Above normal snowpack and cold March temperatures have contributed to this year’s late melt."

According to NWS preliminary data, 2013 brought the sixth coldest March since hydrologic observations began in 1900. This year also had the deepest average snow depth for the last day of March since weather records began in Fargo in the mid-1880s. The NWS ranked the month of March, 2013, as the 14th for coldest average temperature, the 12th snowiest, and the 11th wettest (including rain and melted snow) for Fargo.

The USGS compares current Red River conditions to past large floods on its Fargo flood tracking webpage.

Additional data for the USGS Red River at Fargo streamgage is available online.

NWS flood forecasts for the Red River at Fargo are available online.

This chart compares current gage height of the Red River at Fargo, N.D., to floods in 1997, 2009, and 2011 at the same location. The chart is available for download.

Crowd-Sourcing the Nation: Using Volunteers for Enhanced Data Collection

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 1 Apr 2013 18:41:01 EDT

The USGS is expanding the involvement of volunteers to enhance data collection about structures for The National Map.

This program, known as The National Map Corps, focuses on encouraging citizens to collect data relating to structures by both adding new features and/or correcting existing data within The National Map database. These structures can include schools, hospitals, post offices, police stations and other important public places.

Collaborative pilot projects in Colorado were recently used to test the concept of crowd-sourcing. While the project is on-going, early indications point to positive results and show the success of using TNMC volunteers to enhance data sets.

Over a trial period of ten months, 143 volunteers collected, improved, or deleted data on more than 6,400 structures in Colorado. The volunteers’ actions were accurate and exceeded USGS quality standards. In the Colorado pilot project the volunteer-collected data showed an improvement of approximately 25 percent in both location and attribute accuracy for existing data points. Completeness, or the extent to which all appropriate features were identified and recorded, was nearly perfect.

The significant results of the Colorado pilot have led to a phased, nation-wide expansion of the crowd-sourcing /volunteer project. The states in the first expansion of TNMC are: Arkansas, Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

After an evaluation of the quality and procedures of the first group of states, the second set will be made available. Ultimately, by the end of 2013, the third batch of states will complete the expansion of the program.

"The response by volunteers in Colorado exceeded our expectations both in terms of the number of volunteers and the quality of the data they collected”, said Kari Craun, the Director of the USGS National Geospatial Technical Operations Center. “The Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) community represents a fantastic, untapped resource to assist USGS in maintaining data that are part of The National Map.”

While some familiarity with the area that a volunteer chooses is helpful, one doesn’t have to live near a particular place to contribute. The tools on TNMC website, along with ancillary information available on the Internet, are generally sufficient to edit a distant area.

There have been several instances of crowd-sourced geographic information making significant contributions to research and databases in government, private sector, and non-profit organizations. The goal of the TNMC is to provide data for the nation’s primary federal mapping agency in its effort to provide accurate and authoritative spatial data via the web-based National Map.

The citizen geographers/cartographers who participate in this program will make a significant addition to the USGS’s ability to provide accurate information to the public. Data collected by volunteers become part of TNM Structures dataset which is available to users free of charge.

Without a network of volunteers, the desired information would not be collected this year and the existing data would not be updated. TNMC volunteers perform important work that otherwise will not be accomplished in the foreseeable future.

Becoming a volunteer for TNMC is easy; go to the National Map Corps website to learn more and to sign up as a volunteer. If you have access to the Internet and are willing to dedicate some time to editing map data, we hope you will consider participating!

Local Scientist Receives Two Lifetime Honors for Wildlife Research

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:10:18 EDT

Dr. Pamela Pietz, a research wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, was recently granted the U.S. Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award—the second highest award for a DOI career employee—and elected Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU), one of the oldest and largest organizations in the world devoted to the scientific study of birds.

During her 26-year career with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) in Jamestown, N.D., Pietz's diverse research has included songbird nest predation, the nocturnal behavior of Sandhill Cranes, and the population ecology of American White Pelicans. Pietz received the prestigious Meritorious Service Award in recognition of her insightful and ground-breaking research on the behavior, ecology, and management of seabirds, waterfowl, grassland songbirds, colonially nesting waterbirds, and nest predators. She was chosen as an AOU Fellow by her peers based on her exceptional and sustained contributions to ornithology through research, conservation, and education.

"These honors are noteworthy and well-deserved recognitions for Pam," said Dr. Robert Gleason, NPWRC Director. "Her valuable contributions have enhanced our scientific knowledge and serve as a source of inspiration for students and colleagues."

Early in her career, Pietz demonstrated the negative effects of radio transmitters on waterfowl behavior and nesting success. Her findings led to numerous studies of transmitter effects on the reproductive effort and survival of North American ducks, and to the design and evaluation of several alternative methods for transmitter attachment. She also was one of the first researchers to influence the design and use of miniature video-camera technology at grassland songbird nests, and to demonstrate their value in recording behavioral and ecological data.

Pietz and her collaborators have conducted extensive studies of American White Pelicans, leading to the discovery of West Nile virus as a major mortality factor of pelican chicks at nesting colonies in the northern Great Plains.

Pietz has authored over 50 scientific and technical reports from her research, nearly all focused on birds. She recently co-edited the book, Video Surveillance of Nesting Birds, and was recognized in a paper in Wildlife Biology in Practice as one of the most productive female scientists in the field of wildlife biology and management.

The USGS NPWRC provides scientific information for conservation and management of the Nation’s wildlife. Please visit the NPWRC website for more information.

Local Scientist Honored for Wetland Research

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:07:54 EDT

Dr. Ned H. Euliss, Jr., research wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, was recently granted the U.S. Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award—the second highest award for a DOI career employee—for his contributions to ecological science.

This award recognizes Euliss' exceptional wetland research at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) in Jamestown, N.D., which has enhanced public knowledge of the Nation’s wetlands and been used by the Department to help manage these ecosystems.

"During Dr. Euliss' notable career, he has conducted wetland ecology research that typifies the highest level of excellence within the USGS," said Robert Gleason, director of the NPWRC.

Euliss' early work explored the dietary value of aquatic invertebrates to waterfowl and other migratory birds. He was elected Fellow of the Society of Wetland Scientists in 2010 for developing the Wetland Continuum, a conceptual framework for interpreting biological studies in wetlands. He has since studied the global value of carbon cycling and provided innovative data on carbon storage and sequestration in prairie wetlands. The results from this work were used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to document and include restored prairie wetlands as carbon sinks in annual inventories of greenhouse gas emissions and sinks.

Euliss has also researched ecosystem services such as erosion and sediment reduction, floodwater retention, and wildlife habitat provisioning. Such studies have led to the development of the USGS Integrated Landscape Monitoring Program, and a series of pilot projects to evaluate the effectiveness of quantifying multiple ecosystem services simultaneously across broad geographic regions—critical tools used by the Department and other ecosystem managers.

Currently, Euliss is researching the effects of land-cover and climate change on pollinator health and services, and was recently selected to co-chair the USGS Science Strategy Team for Core Science Systems.

The USGS NPWRC provides scientific information for conservation and management of the Nation’s wildlife. Please visit the NPWRC website for more information.

Local Biologist Recipient of International Lifetime Achievement Award

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 1 Nov 2012 13:33:19 EDT

Former U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) scientist, Lewis M. Cowardin, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists for his pioneering work with waterfowl ecology, wetland classification, remote sensing, and model-assisted decision making. Dr. Cowardin was presented this award on Aug. 22 at Ducks Unlimited in Bismarck, N.D., during the 25^th anniversary of the Four Square Mile Waterfowl Survey.

"It is fitting that Lew received this prestigious award in conjunction with this celebration of a waterfowl survey that he conceived and developed," said Robert Gleason, current Director at NPWRC.

During his 30-year career as a research scientist, Dr. Cowardin provided major contributions to the fields of wetland ecology, wildlife management, and conservation. His studies typically involved innovative applications of existing and new technology, including videography and Geographical Information Systems, with a strong focus on the needs of wildlife managers. His research led to unprecedented capabilities for identifying and implementing the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and other waterfowl management strategies.

"Cowardin's insightful contributions highlight his lifelong drive to find the best science-based solutions to some of our most difficult management challenges," said Mike Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Cowardin was an early advocate of radio-telemetry in studies of breeding waterfowl in forests and prairies, leading to important discoveries about waterfowl ecology and the effects of management. As the team leader, he and three other scientists developed a unified classification system of wetlands and deepwater habitats. That system has become the standard used by most federal agencies and serves as the basis for the National Wetland Inventory.

Cowardin retired from NPWRC in 1995 and currently resides near Jamestown, N.D. with his wife Eustice. He was instrumental in starting the youth hockey program in Jamestown and served as a hockey coach for many years. He is an accomplished musician who enjoys playing guitar and banjo, as well as building his own guitars.

The Society of Wetland Scientists is an international organization dedicated to fostering sound wetland science, education, and management. The Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual in honor of their distinguished and extensive career of consistent meritorious contributions to research, education, or policy in any field of wetland science or management.

Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center was established by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (later U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) in 1965 near Jamestown, N.D. The Center was merged into the U.S. Geological Survey in 1996.

From Pikas to Plague, Climate Change and Wind Energy

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 9:00:00 EDT

USGS Science at the Society for Conservation Biology

More than 800 people are expected to attend the first North America Congress for Conservation Biology from July 15-18, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. The theme of this year's conference is “Bridging the Gap: Connecting People, Nature, and Climate.” This conference provides a forum for presenting and discussing new research and developments in conservation science, practices and challenges.

Fighting Plague with a Peanut Butter-Flavored Vaccine: Prairie dogs and highly endangered black-footed ferret populations in North America are quite susceptible to sylvatic plague, an often deadly, non-native disease of people and wildlife. Currently, wildlife managers contain the disease by dusting prairie dog burrows with an insecticide that can kill disease-carrying fleas, but this is labor-intensive and costly. As an alternative, USGS researchers and colleagues at University of Wisconsin have developed a new oral vaccine, flavored with peanut butter, which can be administered orally through baits. Laboratory tests showed that the oral vaccine protects prairie dogs against plague; tests in some wild prairie dog populations begin this year. If the vaccine is effective in the wild, it could be used in selected prairie dog populations to decrease the occurrence of plague and help in the recovery of black-footed ferrets. Ultimately, a successful vaccine could help stabilize wildlife populations in grassland ecosystems and may benefit public health, since this bacterium is also responsible for plague in people. This presentation, Sylvatic Plague Vaccine: A New Tool for Conservation of Threatened and Endangered Species, will occur in Room JRB 1 on July 16 at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Tonie Rocke, trocke@usgs.gov, 608-270-2451.

Shorebird, Duck, Food Enough? With loss of natural wetlands, wintering shorebirds and diving ducks have become increasingly dependent on managed wetlands. Yet studies are limited about food availability in managed coastal estuaries, such as the ponds in the San Francisco Bay’s South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. USGS researchers and colleagues will discuss their surveys of invertebrate prey density in the pond bottoms. They will discuss whether there is enough food to support the 45,000 diving ducks and 108,000 shorebirds that depend on this area in winter, and whether pond management could increase available energy. This presentation, Effects of Wetland Management on Carrying Capacity of Duck and Shorebird Benthivores in a Coastal Estuary, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 16. Contact Arriana Brand, 707-562-2002, arriana_brand@usgs.gov, or John Takekawa, 707-562-2000, john_takekawa@usgs.gov.

Climate Change and Pliable Pikas? Animals that live in mountain ecosystems are sensitive to small changes in climate and are often exposed to frequent swings in temperature and wind speed, poorly developed soils and generally harsher conditions than animals living at lower elevations. The American pika is a small, mountain-dwelling, hamster-like animal that lives in rocky talus slopes and lava flows typically in mountain ecosystems throughout the western United States. Recently, researchers concluded that the rate of local pika extinction in the hydrographic Great Basin over the last 10 years has increased to about five times faster than averaged during the 20th century. Analogously, the lowest elevation that pikas are occupying moved upslope 11 times faster during that decade than during the 20^th century, suggesting that what constitutes suitable habitat is now shrinking more rapidly. A USGS researcher will present findings that illustrate how hydrological variables – such as snow-water equivalent and growing-season precipitation – are important predictors of pika abundance for this region. In addition, the scientist will show how pika behavioral flexibility – such as use of non-traditional habitats and drinking free water – can, in some cases, allow pikas to live on the edges of their climatic niche. This presentation, Temporally shifting determinants of distribution and abundance of American pikas, and behavioral plasticity ‘softening’ ecological-niche boundaries,” will occur in Symposium 8 (Grand Ballroom, Rooms 1 & 2) on July 16 at 3 p.m. The presentation leads off the symposium, Pikas in Peril? Distribution, Population Trends and Resilience of the American Pika. Contact Erik Beever, ebeever@usgs.gov, 406-994-7670.

Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise: The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is attempting to restore ecosystem services such as flood control, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation to some 15,000 acres of wetlands in San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley. But to do so requires a long-term adaptive management plan with rigorous monitoring and scientific support. Project Executive Director John Bourgeois of the California State Coastal Conservancy will discuss how public and private research partners -- including USGS -- are clarifying the uncertainties involved in such a major restoration project -- such as sea level rise resiliency, sufficient sediment flow for marsh accretion, and disturbance of legacy mercury. This presentation, Restoring South San Francisco Bay Wetlands in the Face of Sea Level Rise will occur in Room JBR 1&2 on July 16 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Laura Valoppi, USGS biologist and Restoration Project's Research Coordinator, laura_valoppi@usgs.gov, 916-704-6198.

From Conservation Reserve Land to Ag Land: Substantial Losses for Amphibians: High commodity prices for agricultural crops, especially for biofuel feedstocks, is rapidly resulting in the conversion of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands to agricultural production in the northern Great Plains. USGS scientists used an ecosystem services model to evaluate the potential effects of this land-use change on amphibians, which have been declining worldwide, primarily because of land-use change. Their scenarios focused on CRP conversion rates of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent in different parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. They then compared present amphibian habitat quality and quantity under the projected conversion rates. They found that if all CRP lands were converted to cropland, one-fourth to over one-third of all amphibian habitat could be lost, which could have devastating effects on amphibian populations in the northern Great Plains. The scientists noted that even at the lowest conversion rate of 10 percent, habitat losses and potential effects on amphibians were still substantial. This presentation, Effects of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change on Amphibian Habitat in the Northern Great Plains, will take place in Room 208 on July 17 at 8:30 a.m. Contact David Mushet, dmushet@usgs.gov, 701-253-5558.

Developing Solutions to Reduce Harmful Effects of Wind Energy on Bats: U.S. Geological Survey researchers and their U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service colleagues are working together to help provide solutions for reducing harmful effects of wind turbines on bats. This joint project is prioritizing research topics such as predicting mortality of bats by wind turbines and using bat life-history information to develop ways to reduce the number of bat deaths. Projects funded through this collaborative process will focus on addressing the most critical research needs to ensure that wind energy development can grow while minimizing costs to wildlife. This presentation, Bats and Wind Energy: State of Knowledge and Research Priorities for USFWS and USGS, will take place in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 from at 12:30 p.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Laura Ellison, ellisonl@usgs.gov, 970-226-9494.

Renewable Energy and Terrestrial Wildlife: Large areas of the Desert Southwest have been developed for utility-scale renewable energy projects, including both wind and solar facilities. The Desert Southwest is also an area of exceptional biodiversity, providing habitat for many sensitive terrestrial species, including the federally protected desert tortoise. USGS scientists and their colleagues reviewed the scientific literature on the effects of utility-scale energy development (wind and solar) and operation on terrestrial, non-flying wildlife. They found that while there is a growing and comparatively large body of information on the effects of wind energy on birds and bats, little information exists in the peer-reviewed scientific literature to evaluate the effects of wind or solar facilities on terrestrial wildlife in the world, including in offshore environments. Potential effects of such facilities include habitat modification and fragmentation, as well as effects from noise, dust, and roads and traffic. Before and after studies of utility-scale renewable energy sites are needed to adequately assess their effects on terrestrial wildlife and to develop methods to address those effects. This presentation, Terrestrial Wildlife Conservation and Renewable Energy Development in the Desert Southwest United States: A Review, will occur in Room JBR 1 & 2 on July 17 at 11:30 a.m. It is one of eight presentations in a symposium entitled Cultivating a Role for Wildlife Conservation in Energy Development. Contact Jeff Lovich, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov, 928-556-7358.

Wildlife Response to Fire: Climate Change and Corridor Conservation in Southern California: In southern California, wildfires are expected to become more frequent as climate change occurs, so understanding how increased fire will impact wildlife habitats and behavior is critical for effective resource planning. Researchers analyzed GPS tracking data on bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions in southern California to understand how mammalian carnivores respond to burned landscapes, and whether the home ranges and movement patterns of these species changed with wildfire and urban development. Researchers from San Diego State University, USGS, Colorado State University, and University of California, Davis, participated in this study. This presentation, Corridor Conservation in Southern California under Climate Change: Understanding Wildlife Response to Burned Landscapes, will occur in Room OCC 210/211 on July 17 at 3:45 p.m. Contact Erin Boydston, eboydston@usgs.gov, 805-370-2362, or Lisa Lyren at llyren@usgs.gov, 760-931-1101.

San Francisco Bay: Water and Climate Change Projections, 2000-2100: Just-completed climate change scenarios for the years 2000-2100 in the San Francisco Bay project an increased variability in the bay’s water runoff, recharge and stream discharge, as well as a shifting of the seasonal timing of the bay’s water cycles. The four scenarios, completed by USGS researchers, used IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) projections of future climate changes to create a regional water balance model. For both drier and wetter scenarios, seasonal warming amplified the climatic water deficit, a measure of drought stress on soils and vegetation. This state-of-the-art climate science should help managers plan for the future. This presentation, Ensemble Hydrologic Modeling for the Next Century: Implications for San Francisco Bay Area Natural Resources, will take place in Room GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 8:50 a.m. Contact A.L. Flint at aflint@usgs.gov, 916-278-3221.

California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity: By analyzing the present and expected future climate conditions of protected areas within California, USGS researchers were able to identify the stability of those areas with respect to climate change; they then identified where increased landscape connectivity might help offset the negative effects of climate change. Because changing climate conditions will not affect all areas in California equally, researchers examined which protected areas would likely benefit most from expanded landscape connectivity via corridors. This information can help resource managers and policy-makers prioritize decisions about the most effective ways to mitigate the effects of climate change with limited resources. This presentation, California Climate Change and Landscape Connectivity, will occur in ROOM GBR 1&2 on July 18 at 11 a.m. Contact Jason Kreitler, jkreitler@usgs.gov, 208-426-5217.

USGS Details Effects of Climate Change on Water Availability in 14 Local Basins Nationwide

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 16 May 2012 6:00:00 EDT

Climate change projections indicate a steady increase in temperature progressing through the 21^st century, generally resulting in snowpack reductions, changes to the timing of snowmelt, altered streamflows, and reductions in soil moisture, all of which could affect water management, agriculture, recreation, hazard mitigation, and ecosystems across the nation. Despite some widespread similarities in climate change trends, climate change will affect specific water basins in the U.S. differently, based on the particular hydrologic and geologic conditions in that area.

New USGS modeling studies project changes in water availability due to climate change at the local level. So far, the USGS has applied these models to fourteen basins, including:

"The advantage of these studies is that they demonstrate that there is not just one hydrological response to climate change: the predictions account for essential local factors that will govern the timing, severity, and type of impact, whether it be water shortage, drought, or flood," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "This is exactly the sort of information communities need to know now, because we are unlikely to see a 'water-as-usual' future."

These local projections are based on General Circulation Models (GCM) that predict how climate change will affect temperature, precipitation, and emissions for large regional areas. The USGS’s Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) applies information from the downscaled GCM projections to local watersheds, where impacts of climate change on water availability will depend on local conditions. These local-scale hydrologic projections will allow managers to plan for changes in water resources that are specific to their area.

For example, the USGS models project that changes to snow pack in the Sprague River Basin in Oregon could cause annual peak streamflows to occur earlier in the spring as overall basin storage decreases, which may force managers to modify storage operation and reprioritize water deliveries for environmental and human needs. Reduced snowpack in headwaters of the Colorado River could affect the amount and timing of streamflow to the Colorado River and also impact important recreation areas. Portions of Maine may see higher streamflows which could affect populations of endangered Atlantic salmon. Areas of the already drought-stressed Flint River Basin, one of Atlanta’s primary drinking water supplies, are projected to become even drier.

The results for each basin present a complex story due to uncertainty associated with the future climate projections and their effect on the hydrological response of the different geographical regions of the nation.

Detailed information about watershed responses to climate change can be found online. Additionally, a collection of USGS studies that contributed to these basin-wide analyses was published in the journal Earth Interactions.

The downscaled GCM models are obtained from the World Climate Research Programme's Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 multi-model dataset archive. The USGS PRMS models were developed as part of the USGS National Research Program (NRP) in cooperation with USGS Water Science Centers. The NRP develops new information, theories, and techniques to anticipate, understand, and solve problems facing resources managers and is a national leader in understanding the effects of climate change on water resources.

These USGS models are just one of several tools developed and used by agencies within the Department of the Interior to study potential impacts from climate change and to provide tools to resource managers to adapt to those changes. For example, the Bureau of Reclamation recently unveiled a user-friendly tool for calculating future streamflow and water supplies at 195 sites in the western United States to help increase accessibility of science-based information and ease understanding of how climate variations will impact water availability for local communities.

A Big Day for Science: Citizens Have Contributed One Million Observations to Top Nature Database

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 3 May 2012 9:00:00 EDT

RESTON, Va. — Thanks to citizen-scientists around the country, the USA National Phenology Network hit a major milestone this week by reaching its one millionth nature observation.

The millionth observation was done by Lucille Tower, a citizen-scientist in Portland, Ore., who entered a record about seeing maple vines flowering. Her data, like all of the entries, came in through USA-NPN’s online observation program, Nature's Notebook, which engages more than 4,000 volunteers across the country to observe and record phenology – the timing of the recurring life events of plants and animals such as when cherry trees or lilacs blossom, when robins build their nests, when salmon swim upstream to spawn or when leaves turn colors in the fall.

Each record not only represents a single data point — the status of a specific life stage of an individual plant or animal on one day – but also benefits both science and society by helping researchers understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and, in turn, how those responses are affecting people and ecological systems.

"My dream is that through the wonders of modern technology and the National Phenology Network we could turn the more than six billion people on the planet into components of our scientific observing system," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "We could make giant leaps in science education, improve the spatial and temporal coverage of the planet, lower the cost of scientific data collection, and all while making ordinary citizens feel a part of the scientific process."

Jake Weltzin, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and the executive director of USA-NPN, concurs. "Hitting the one millionth observation is exciting because researchers and decision-makers need more information to understand and respond to our rapidly changing planet. More information means better-informed decisions that ensure the continued vitality of our natural areas that we all depend on and enjoy."

For example, said Weltzin, the data in Nature's Notebook are already being used to benefit society, including the development of more accurate indicators of spring, forecasting the onset of allergy seasons or the chances of western wildfires, managing wildlife and invasive plants, and setting goals for habitat restoration. Ultimately, such information can be used for better managing water resources, wildlife and ecosystem management, and even help farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Changes in phenology are among the most sensitive biological indicators of global change. Across the world, many springtime events are occurring earlier — and fall events happening later — than in the past. These changes are happening quickly for some species and more slowly, or not at all, for others, altering relationships and processes that have been dynamically stable for thousands of years. Some wildlife —like caribou and butterflies — are becoming mismatched from their plant food resources, which are responding differently. Migrations for some birds are changing too, as they can now overwinter instead of moving south for the winter, or as they fly north more quickly to keep pace with an advancing front of spring flowering.

Because of this, said Weltzin, scientists need more and better information about the pace and pattern of nature — locally to nationally — to answer important scientific and societal questions, and to build the tools and models needed to help people understand and adapt to the changes.

"So much of our improved understanding about global environmental changes is driven by varied and valuable sources of information that include networks of citizen-scientists," said John Wingfield, National Science Foundation’s assistant director for biological sciences. "The public at large has played an important role collecting observations and data for a hundred years and more. Knowledge and data gained from their work will continue to have a lasting effect on how we understand regularly recurring biological phenomena for hundreds of plant and animal species and contribute to the policy arena."

Gwen Lundburg in Seattle is one citizen-scientist who has contributed hundreds of entries into Nature’s Notebook. "Just noticing small changes like tiny purple lilac buds suddenly turning green has taught me to look more closely at my plants," Lundburg said. "I see things in my garden I never saw before."

With the help of citizen-scientist volunteers, working in concert with professionals, the USA-NPN, which was established in 2007, collects, stores and freely shares phenological data on more than 800 species of plants and animals. The Nature’s Notebook observing program has been in operation since 2009. The coordinating office of the organization is located at 1955 E. 6^th St., Tucson, Ariz., 85721. For more information, visit the USA National Phenology Network, or contact Jake Weltzin at 520-626-3821 or jweltzin@usgs.gov.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:39:22 EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Interior today released the first in a series of regional studies measuring the amount of carbon stored in U.S. ecosystems. Published by Interior's U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the study examines the current and projected future carbon storage in the Great Plains region, as part of a nation-wide assessment.

Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

Local Biologist Elected Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 5 Oct 2011 13:47:09 EDT

Dr. Gary Krapu, U.S. Geological Survey scientist and Dickey County, N.D. native, was recently elected Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union for his exceptional contributions to ornithology through research, conservation efforts, and education.

Krapu, a wildlife research biologist at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (NPWRC) in Jamestown, N.D., received this prestigious honor at the 129th AOU Stated Meeting in Jacksonville, Fla., for his long-term scientific research on migratory bird populations. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers on habitat needs, nutritional requirements, and population ecology of waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and arctic-nesting shorebirds, and several of these papers are helping to guide waterfowl and sandhill crane management and wetland conservation efforts across North America.

Krapu currently serves on the Science Advisory Team for the Whooping Crane Eastern Population Partnership. He has been a scientific advisor to numerous students working on advanced degrees involving research on waterfowl and sandhill cranes, and he currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Krapu began his research career in 1968, three years after establishment of the NPWRC, and has since collaborated with scientists across the world on sandhill crane and waterfowl research. Krapu is currently monitoring the annual cycle of the midcontinent population of sandhill cranes with an emphasis on spring staging ecology in the Central Platte Valley, Neb., and its relation to reproduction. His ongoing research studies include the effects of agriculture on the nutritional requirements of migratory birds.

The USGS NPWRC provides scientific information for conservation and management of the nation's wildlife.

Local Biologist Receives Prestigious Federal Honor

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EDT

U.S. Geological Survey biologist Dr. Marsha A. Sovada was recently granted the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, the second highest award for a DOI career employee, for her contributions to the development and management of wildlife research studies.

Sovada received the prestigious award in recognition of her research on the behavior and ecology of mammalian predators and waterfowl with the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, N.D. Her 30-year career with the USGS has included predator ecology, waterfowl biology, mammalogy, ornithology, and natural resources management.

Sovada is recognized as one of the North America's leading experts on foxes. She serves as the chairperson for the Research Technical Committee of the North American Swift Fox Conservation Team, whose efforts led to removal of the Swift Fox from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's candidate species list. She is an invited member of the Canid Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and serves on the Island Fox Recovery Team, working to conserve the endangered fox species that inhabits the Channel Islands off the coast of California.

The award also recognizes Sovada's American White Pelicans research, which has led to the discovery of West Nile virus as a major mortality factor of pelican chicks at Chase Lake and other colonies in the northern Great Plains.

Sovada's extensive publications involve topics such as destruction of duck nests in the Prairie Pothole Region, the distribution and abundance of predators that affect duck production, and canid interactions.

Sovada currently serves as a senior researcher on Northern Prairie's Missouri River Research Team that is conducting studies directed at improving management and monitoring of the federally listed Interior Least tern and Piping Plover populations in North Dakota and South Dakota.

The USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center provides scientific information for conservation and management of the nation's wildlife.

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How Mighty is the Mouse?

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:24:18 EDT

The Souris Broke Flood Records by a Large Margin This Year

Peak streamflow during the current Souris River flood was almost twice the previous record in Sherwood, N.D., according to U.S. Geological Survey streamgage data.

The flooded Souris, or "Mouse," River peaked at 29,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) on June 24 at the USGS-operated streamgage in Sherwood—almost doubling the 1976 record of 14,800 cfs at this location. The Souris River at Sherwood gage was established in March of 1930 by the USGS, and has never before recorded such high streamflows.

"In a single day, June 24, more water passed the Souris River at Sherwood streamgage than passed in each year for 45 of the 82 years of record," said Gregg Wiche, director of the USGS North Dakota Water Science Center.

Since March 1, USGS crews have made 28 measurements of water discharge on the Souris River at Sherwood to document the flood. These measurements, combined with the recorded water levels, have been used to compute the daily streamflow for the Sherwood gage.

The volume or amount of water flowing past the Sherwood gage has also has been record-breaking this year. During the first nine months of the 2011 water year—Oct. 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011—about 1,201,000 acre-feet (one acre-foot is close to the amount of water that would cover a football field to a depth of one foot) have been measured at the Sherwood gage, breaking the 1976 record of 635,000 acre-feet. This record-breaking volume of water will continue to increase because of high flows still in the river.

"By all measures, 2011 is truly a great flood year in the Souris River Basin," Wiche said.

The USGS collects data from more than 100 streamgages in North Dakota, most of which provide real-time data that is transmitted every hour. For the latest and most accurate streamflow data for North Dakota, visit the real-time streamflow web page.

Links to graphics that allow for comparison of the current river stage to historical peaks and to the National Weather Service flood stage are available on the USGS WaterWatch web page for North Dakota or through links on the USGS North Dakota Water Science Center flood web page.

For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk, and for many recreational activities.

Along the 100th Meridian

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Wed, 6 Jul 2011 16:20:10 EDT

Historical Extremes in Water

Record flooding along the Souris River near Minot, N.D. and record drought at O.C. Fisher Lake near San Angelo, Texas have more than their contrasting water conditions in common.

These places, nearly 1,000 miles apart, are situated almost exactly north and south of each other near the100^thmeridian of longitude. On average they have similar amounts of precipitation. Minot typically receives 17.5 inches per year while San Angelo customarily tallies 22.5 inches annually.

"The upper Souris Basin has been quite moist since last fall," said Steve Robinson from the U.S. Geological Survey North Dakota Water Science Center. "An above normal winter snowpack in addition to much above normal precipitation in May and June led to the record flooding along the Souris River."

Meanwhile, Texas is experiencing near record drought conditions four states south of North Dakota. Jason Johnson of the National Weather Service in San Angelo said that this is the driest nine-month period in Texas since record collection began more than 100 years ago.

Cary Carman of the USGS office in San Angelo grew up in west Texas where many of his relatives still recall the historic drought of the 1950s. Carman said that although O.C. Fisher Lake has been dry before, he has not seen such parched conditions.

"It is a challenge to keep streamgaging instrumentation working properly because many streams and reservoirs are so low," said Carman.

In the late nineteenth century, the 100th meridian, one hundred degrees of longitude west of Greenwich, England, emerged as a widely-recognized line that represented the boundary in the central United States between the moist east and the arid west. In his 1878 "Report on the Lands of the Arid Region of the United States," John Wesley Powell, the second Director of the USGS, noted the boundary that has resonated to this day.

The 100^th meridian was not solely selected for its neat round number; it actually approximates the north-south line of twenty inches of annual average precipitation. When an area receives more than twenty inches of precipitation, irrigation is often not necessary. Thus, this line of longitude marks the approximate boundary between the non-irrigated east and the irrigation-needed west.

Log in to the USGS WaterWatch site to stay apprised of both floods and drought across the country. WaterWatch displays maps, graphs, and tables that describe real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis.

Detailed statistics of the water extremes described here may be viewed online in real-time. Click here for Minot, N.D. and here for O.C. Fisher Lake, San Angelo, Texas.

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Lichens May Aid in Combating Deadly Chronic Wasting Disease in Wildlife

OC_Web@usgs.gov (Office of Communications and Publishing) — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:50 EDT

MADISON, Wis. – Certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada, according to U.S. Geological Survey research published today in the journal PLoS ONE.

Like other "prion" diseases, CWD is caused by unusual, infectious proteins called prions. One of the best-known of these diseases is "mad cow" disease, a cattle disease that has infected humans. However, there is no evidence that CWD has infected humans. Disease-causing prions, responsible for some incurable neurological diseases of people and other diseases in animals, are notoriously difficult to decontaminate or kill. Prions are not killed by most detergents, cooking, freezing or by autoclaving, a method used to sterilize medical instruments.

"When prions are released into the environment by infected sheep or deer, they can stay infectious for many years, even decades," said Christopher Johnson, Ph.D., a scientist at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the lead author of the study. "To help limit the spread of these diseases in animals, we need to be able to remove prions from the environment."

The researchers found that lichens have great potential for safely reducing the number of prions because some lichen species contain a protease enzyme (a naturally produced chemical) capable of significantly breaking down prions in the lab.

"This work is exciting because there are so few agents that degrade prions and even fewer that could be used in the environment without causing harm," said Jim Bennett, Ph.D., a USGS lichenologist and a co-author of the study.

CWD and scrapie in sheep are different than other prion diseases because they can easily spread in sheep or deer by direct animal-to-animal contact or through contact with contaminated inanimate objects like soil. Chronic wasting disease was first diagnosed in the 1960s and has since been detected in 19 states and two Canadian provinces. CWD has been detected in wild elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and moose in North America.

Lichens, said Johnson, produce unique and unusual organic compounds that aid their survival and can have antibiotic, antiviral and other chemotherapeutic activities. In fact, pharmaceutical companies have been examining the medicinal properties of lichens more closely in recent years.

Lichens - which are often mistaken for moss - are unusual plant-like organisms that are actually a symbioses of fungi, algae and bacteria living together. They usually live on soil, bark, leaves and wood and can live in barren and unwelcoming environments, including the Arctic and in deserts.

Future work will examine the effect of lichens on prions in the environment and determine if lichen consumption can protect animals from acquiring prion diseases.

The study, “Degradation of the disease-associated prion protein by a serine protease from lichens,” was published in PLoS ONE and is freely accessible to the public. The study was authored by USGS scientists Christopher Johnson, James Bennett and Tonie Rocke, as well as authors from Montana State University and the University of Wisconsin.